Strawberry plant named ‘Ventura’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Ventura’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘E26’, ‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’. The variety is distinguished from ‘E26’, ‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’, in particular, by its globose to flat globose habit, medium density, weak to medium vigor, medium leaf glossiness, calyx diameter that is smaller relative to the corolla, semi-erect attitude at first picking, conical to cordate fruit shape, slight differences in shape between the primary and secondary fruit, narrow band without achenes, insertion of the calyx that is in a basin to level, weak to medium adherence of the calyx, and fruit with firm flesh and a small hollow center.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between thestrawberry plants ‘Mr. P’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,840) and ‘R1’(unpatented Driscoll variety) in an ongoing breeding program, and wasdiscovered as a seedling in a controlled breeding plot at the DriscollResearch Ranch, Ventura County, Calif. in October 1992. The originalseedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons at theDriscoll Nursery, McArthur, Shasta County, Calif. Propagules weretransplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Monterey County, Calif.,where it was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Ventura’was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing atvarious locations in Ventura County, Calif. for seven years. Thispropagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traitsdisclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed andretained true to type through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofstrawberry named ‘Ventura’. The variety is botanically identified asFragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varietiesby a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-6.

3. COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Ventura’ from thoseknown to us are ‘E26’ (unpatented Driscoll variety), ‘Montalvo’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 11,522) and ‘Baeza’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,548). Thereare several characteristics of the new variety that are different from,or not possessed by ‘E26’, ‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’. The new variety hasa globose to flat globose habit, medium density, weak to medium vigor,medium leaf glossiness, a calyx diameter that is smaller relative to thecorolla, a semi-erect attitude at first picking, conical to cordatefruit shape, slight differences in shape between the primary andsecondary fruit, a narrow band without achenes, insertion of the calyxthat is in a basin to level, weak to medium adherence of the calyx, andfruit with firm flesh and a small hollow center.

Plants of ‘Mr. P’ were more vigorous than those of ‘Ventura’. Fruit of‘Mr. P’ had poorer shelf-life than those of ‘Ventura’ by being moreorange in color and possessing raised achenes. Plants of R1 werepartially everbearing while those of ‘Ventura’ are everbearing.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety,including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make in color illustrations of thesecharacteristics.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up photo of the whole plant.

FIG. 2 shows the whole plant.

FIG. 3 shows the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 4 shows the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 5 shows the upper side and under side of the flowers.

FIG. 6 shows a close-up of the strawberry.

FIG. 7 shows the strawberry in longitudinal cross-section.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based uponobservations taken of plants and fruit grown in Ventura County, Calif.,U.S.A. Observations of ‘Ventura’, ‘E26’, ‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’ weretaken in side by side comparison in 1999. This description is inaccordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, colordescriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from thestated values and descriptions depending upon variation inenvironmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Color aredescribed and the most similar color designations are provided from TheRoyal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

5.1 PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Althoughpropagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods ofpropagating strawberry plants may be employed.

5.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2 and 3. In thetables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except whereindicated. The petal color of ‘Ventura’ is white, 155C in The R.H.S.Colour Chart. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one year oldplants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary andsecondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics ofthe new variety ‘Ventura’ compared with characteristics of ‘E26’,‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’. Table 2 provides additional information of theplant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Ventura’ comparedwith characteristics of the varieties ‘E26’, ‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’.Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses as compared tothe varieties ‘E26’, ‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’. Tables 4 and 5 provideinformation of the new variety's reaction to pests and diseases,respectively, compared to the varieties ‘E26’, ‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’.Table 6 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as comparedto the varieties ‘E26’, ‘Montalvo’, and ‘Baeza’.

The leaf margin is crenate. Leaf texture is slightly blistered. Theshape of the leaf is rounded to broadly ovate. The mid-vein color on theterminal leaflet is yellow green (154C) and the venation pattern ispinate.

The average petiole diameter is 0.37 cm. The average length of thepetiole on the terminal leaflet is 1.32 cm.

The petal shape is rounded to broadly ovate. The petal margin is entire.The petal texture is smooth. The shape of the petal apex and base arerounded. The average number of petals per flower is 5.6.

The color of the stipule is yellow-green (145A).

The average sepal length is 1.1 cm. The average sepal width is 0.46 cm.The sepal color is 138A.

The average number of achenes per berry is 286.

TABLE 1 DETAILED COMPARISON OF ‘VENTURA’, ‘E26’, ‘MONTALVO’ AND ‘BAEZA’Ventura E26 Montalvo Baeza Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm)24.8 20.0 25.6 26.4 Spread of Plant (cm) 38.9 37.5 40.4 42.6 Number ofCrowns  3.3  2.9  3.0  3.6 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet Width 8.7  8.0  9.6  9.6 (cm) Terminal Leaflet Length  8.3  8.0  9.5  9.5(cm) Terminal Leaflet  0.96  1.00  0.98  0.99 Length/Width Ratio Numberof Teeth/ 24.6 21.2 20.6 32.2 Terminal Leaflet Color of upper side ofMedium Medium Light to Light to leaf green green medium medium 137B 137Agreen green 147A 147A Color of under side of Light Light Light Lightleaf green green green green 138B 138C 138C 138B Petiole Lenght (cm)17.1 14.1 15.4 16.5 Petiole color yellow yellow yellow yellow greengreen green green 145B 145A 144C 144A Bract Frequency 20% 40% 20% 70%Typically Typically Typically paired paired paired Stipule Length (cm) 2.9  3.1  3.5  3.6 Stipule Width (cm)  1.1  1.3  1.2  1.3 FlowerCharacteristics Petal Width (cm)  1.05  1.08  1.23  1.28 Petal Length(cm)  1.08  1.03  1.19  1.26 Petal Length/Width Ratio  1.03  0.95  0.97 0.98 Flower Diameter (cm)  2.76  2.70  3.08  3.15 Calyx Diameter (cm) 2.49  2.63  2.82  3.00 Fruit Characteristics Fruit Width (cm)  3.9  3.8 4.0  3.6 Fruit Length (cm)  4.0  4.0  4.6  3.9 Fruit Length/Width Ratio 1.01  1.06  1.16  1.08 Average Berry Size (g) 26.3 23.2 27.6 21.8 FruitSkin Color Red Orange Orange Red 46A red Red 46A 46B 45B Fruit FleshColor White & White White White & orange and pale and orange red roseorange red 44A & 33B & red 42B & 155D 155D 43A & 155D 155A AcheneColoration Yellow to Yellow Yellow Yellow Red to Red to Red to Red 13Bto 14A to 13A to 13A to 45B 46A 26A 46A Total Yield (g/plant) 433 503357 445

TABLE 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF ‘VENTURE’, ‘E26’, ‘MONTALVO’, AND ‘BAEZA’Ventura E26 Montalvo Baeza Plant Habit globose to flat flat globose flatglobose flat globose Density medium medium to open to open dense mediumVigor weak to weak strong medium medium Leaf Shape in slightly concaveto concave concave cross section concave slightly concave Intervenialstrong strong to weak to strong to blistering very strong medium verystrong Glossiness medium weak weak weak Number of 3 only 3 only 3 only 3only leaflets Terminal revolute to revolute to flat revolute to leafletflat flat flat margin profile Terminal rounded rounded obtuse to obtuseto leaflet shape rounded rounded of base Terminal obtuse rounded roundedacute to leaflet shape obtuse of teeth Stipule sparse sparse sparsesparse pubescence Petiole sparse sparse sparse very sparse pubescence tosparse Petiole pose outwards outwards upwards to outwards of hairsoutwards Stolon Number few to medium to — — medium many Anthocyaninmedium medium to — — coloration strong Thickness medium to medium to — —thick thick Pubescence dense dense — — Inflorescence Position level tobeneath beneath to level to relative to above level above foliageDiameter of smaller same size to smaller to same size to calyx largersame size larger relative to corolla Diameter of same size same sizelarger same size inner calyx relative to outer Spacing of touching tooverlapping overlapping overlapping petals overlapping Fruiting TrussAttitude at semi-erect prostrate prostrate prostrate first pickingLength (cm) 29.8 22.1 26.4 26.9 Fruit Predominant conical to conicalconical to conical shape cordate almost cylindrical Difference in slightvery slight marked very slight shapes to slight to slight betweenprimary and secondary fruits Band without narrow narrow to medium verynarrow achenes medium to narrow Unevenness of weak to weak weak to weakto surface medium medium on medium secondary fruit; strong on primaryfruit Evenness of uneven slightly slightly slightly color uneven unevenuneven to even Glossiness strong strong medium to strong strongInsertion of below level with below level to achenes surface surfacesurface below surface Insertion of in a basin set above set above levelcalyx to level the fruit the fruit Pose of the reflexed reflexedreflexed spreading to calyx reflexed segments Size of calyx smallersmaller smaller to same size to in relation same size larger to fruitAdherence of weak to strong strong strong calyx medium Firmness of firmsoft to medium medium to flesh medium firm Evenness of slightly unevenslightly uneven flesh color uneven uneven Distribution marginal and onlymarginal and marginal and of flesh central marginal central centralcolor Hollow center small medium small to large size medium Sweetnessmedium to medium medium to medium strong strong Texture when fine mediumfine medium tasted Acidity weak to weak to weak to medium medium mediummedium Time of mid to late mid to late mid to late mid to late FloweringAugust August August August Harvest Oct. 2- Oct. 2- Oct. 2- Oct. 2-Interval Dec. 18 Dec. 18 Dec. 18 Dec. 18 Type of fully fully fully fullyBearing everbearing everbearing everbearing everbearing

5.3 REACTION TO STRESS TABLE 3

TABLE 3 Reaction to Stress Ventura E26 Montalvo Baeza high pH ModeratelyModerately Moderately Moderately Resistant Resistant Resistant Resistanthigh soil salt Moderately Moderately Moderately Moderately levelsResistant Resistant Resistant Resistant

5.4 PEST AND DISEASE RESISTANCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY

TABLE 4 Reaction to Pests Venutra E26 Montalvo Baeza Tetranychusmoderately moderately moderately moderately urticae susceptiblesusceptible susceptible susceptible Aphis spp. susceptible susceptiblesusceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptiblesusceptible susceptible

TABLE 5 Reaction to Diseases Ventura E26 Montalvo Baeza Botrytis fruitmoderately susceptible susceptible susceptible rot susceptible Powderyhighly highly highly highly mildew susceptible susceptible susceptiblesusceptible Verticillium susceptible susceptible susceptible susceptiblewilt Strawberry moderately moderately moderately moderately Mottle Virusresistant resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas moderatelymoderately moderately moderately fragariae resistant resistant resistantresistant

5.5 ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar‘Ventura’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its geneticmakeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety anddistinguishing it from some other somewhat similar and/or relatedstrawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Ventura’, ‘E26’,‘Montalvo’ and ‘Baeza’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozymepatterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI), leucineaminopeptidase (LAP) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM). See J. Amer. Soc.Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme chaaracterization of the three varietiesis presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the bandingpatterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 6 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘VENTURA’ ‘E26’, ‘MONTALVO’, AND ‘BAEZA’Locus Ventura E26 Montalvo Baeza PGI A2 A2 A4 A1 LAP B3 B3 B3 B3 PGM C4C2 C4 C3

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant,substantially as shown and described.